I took up cycling two years ago and joined the Dubai Roadsters, a great group of over two hundred cycling enthusiasts. Now that I'm living in Europe again, I've started taking part in sportive events. I recently completed the Wicklow 200, the 160km Royal Challenge in the An Post Meath Heritage Cycle Tour, the 132km Etape Hibernia in Co. Clare (above), and the 160km Comeragh Challenge in the Sean Kelly Tour in Co. Waterford (the hardest so far). I'm planning on taking part in the An Post Rebel Tour on September 11 in Cork, my home county.

I also rode the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour for the first time in 2010. This is the world's biggest timed cycle race and it follows a hilly 109 km route around the Cape Town peninsula. There were 28925 riders this year, down from the 35,000 or so that registered, most of whom dropped out because of the strong winds which were gusting up to 60 kph.

One of the most remarkable features of the Cape Argus is the huge number of spectators who line the route from very early on, shouting encouragment while they enjoy an early-morning braai and pump up the volume of their sound systems. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba was just what I needed as I started the climb up Suikerbossie.

Cycling Weekly featured a great article on riding the Cape Argus.

Crossing the finish line at the 2010 Etape Hibernia!

My local bike shop in Dubai was Wolfi's Bike Shop in Dubai, an endless reservoir of cycling knowledge and a treasure trove of bikes and biking gadgets. If you want sound advice, great kit, and top-class service, this is the place to go.

I ride a Storck Fascenario IS with a Campagnolo Super Record Groupset, and either Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate or Zipp Storck 69 wheels. I also wear a Catlike Whisper Plus helmet which almost certainly saved my life in a serious accident in December 2009 (well, the old one did; I had to get a new one after the accident!).